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New Orleans Saints' Jairus Byrd, Kenny Vaccaro named as top 10 most dynamic safeties by NFL.com

kenny vaccaro.jpg

New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) intercepts a fourth quarter pass during the game between the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints at the Superdome on Sunday, September 22, 2013.
(Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

Newly acquired Jairus Byrd and 2013 first-round pick Kenny Vaccaro came in at Nos. 4 and 7, respectively. Brooks had this to say about Byrd:

The pass-happy nature of the NFL makes it imperative for elite defenses to feature a ballhawk in the middle of the field. The Saints now have arguably the best centerfielder in the game, having signed Byrd to a monster contract this offseason. The sixth-year pro has 22 interceptions in 73 games, thanks to exceptional anticipation, awareness and ball skills.... Playing behind an aggressive front seven with a pair of rising pass rushers (Cameron Jordan and Junior Galette), Byrd could take his game to another level in New Orleans

And here's some of what he had to say about Vaccaro:

When Saints coordinator Rob Ryan boldly called the second-year pro the best overall safety in the NFL, plenty of observers assumed the defensive wizard was simply pumping up one of the young stars on his defense. But there's something to this bluster. Despite suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 16, Vaccaro finished his rookie season with 79 tackles, eight passes defensed, one pick and one forced fumble.

Former St. Augustine star, LSU stalwart, 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist and current Arizona Cardinal Tyrann Mathieu checked in at No. 9. Brooks had this to say about the Honey Badger:

The "Honey Badger" is the prototypical nickel defender that every defensive coordinator covets. Mathieu is an athletic safety with corner-like cover skills and a knack for playmaking. He is comfortable aligning anywhere, but he's at his best when deployed near the line of scrimmage as a lurking extra defender against the run or a sneaky rusher on passing downs.

Seattle Seahawks cover man and "Legion of Boom" member Earl Thomas and Kansas City's Eric Berry came in at Nos. 1 and 2. Antrel Rolle of the Giants and Kam Chancellor of the Seahawks rounded out the top 5.